Director General

Mr.Vajira Ariyaratna Waduge

Mr. Vajira Ariyaratna WADUGE has been appointed as the Director-General of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB) since February 2017.

Mr. Waduge, graduated from the University of Peradeniya majoring Chemistry and then obtained his Master Degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Colombo. He has also been awarded with one year Fellowship at the European Joint Research Centre (JRC/Euroatom), in Italy, another year at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), in Japan, three months Fellowship in Analytical Chemistry at the Faculty of Physics and Nuclear Techniques of University of Krakow, Poland, and three months fellowship at the Seibursdorf laboratories of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. Additionally, he gained technical knowledge & research experience on the use of Nuclear Science and Technology through the participation in training courses and workshops organized by IAEA.

He has more than 30 years of service at the Institute and has made a great contribution towards the success of the Institute.During his career, he has been a part and partial of many Technical Co-operation (TC) projects, supported by the IAEA and he has functioned as the National Project Counterpart for several IAEA/TC projects. He has also been functioning as National Project Coordinator (NPC) for number of Regional Projects conducted under the Regional Co-operative Agreements (RCA) in the Asia-Pacific region. He also functioned as Chief Investigator of several Coordinated Research Programmes (CRPs) assisted by IAEA providing opportunities for graduate students to complete their research assignments at SLAEB under his supervision.

He has been playing an important role in the development of nuclear analytical capabilities and capacities of the Institute. Prior to his joining, there were no laboratory facilities available at all for the Institute in its own and with his initiatives, it was possible for the SLAEB to establish several laboratory facilities including X-ray analytical facility, Alpha-Beta and Gamma spectrometric facilities, and Radiochemical analysis facilities adding value and recognition to the institute. He has served as the Technical Manager of the Nuclear Analytical Laboratories of SLAEB and also became Coordinator for Sri Lanka in the International Network for “Analytical Laboratories for measurement of Radioactivity -(ALMERA)” since 2012 and uplifted the level of analytical laboratory as internationally recognized ALMERA designated laboratory.

He also launched several analytical services at the SLAEB making wide access for various customers to benefit from peaceful applications of Nuclear Science and Technology. He has also contributed to several scientific publications which addressed national issues and interests.